DIY Cut Out Shoulder Shirt

You think these trends will go away after a while, but I still love the cut out shoulder shirt as much as I did when I first saw it on Hanelli a long long time ago (in fashion years). Follow my tutorial here (equally old) but use a oversized mens shirt this time to create a dress.

Obviously I wet my pants when I found out that Miroslava Duma now does outfit posts. Does anyone else wish you could carry her around in your pocket (as she is so tiny) and pull her out when you need style advice?

Image: Buro 24/7 via Il Etait Une Fois

DIY Cut Out Back Jacket

In silk, leather and everything in between, the cut out back jacket is amazing, and very very DIYable. Take a thrifted jacket, some scissors and away you go. If you love this look as much as I do, there is a similar style in the album over at The Style Net Facebook Page which you can vote on for me to make! Head over and vote for this look if you love it.

Images: Because I'm addicted, Stockholm Street Style.

DIY Inspired Collection - Milin

Stumbled across this collection from Thai designers Milin over at The Fashion Inbox (very fun fellow HK blogger) and was inspired by its beauty - as usual I picked out a few DIY-able details including wrapped halter tops, cut out singlets, tie dye, fabric wrapped heels, pleated minis and cute shorts. I adore this collection! And how hot are the first pair of high waisted trousers?

LBD #1: DIY Cut Out Back Minidress

This is the first DIY in the little black dress series. As soon as I saw this gorgeous dress on Rosie Huntington-Whitely (over at one of my favourite inspiration blogs Studded Hearts), I just had to make my own version. I particularly liked how the cut out part of the white Max Mara version came around the front of the ribs so the dress looked 'cut out' from both the back and the front.

DIY:

You'll need - a thrifted dress, scissors, chalk and a needle and thread. I used this dress, which is made out of a thick silk fabric, because I had it already, but you can also use a slinky jersey one for a more sexy look (like Rosie).

1. Put the dress on and get someone to draw the cut out bits on you. You want to draw on an upside down 'U' shape which keeps some fabric at the back of the neck so the dress retains its shape. (The bfs chalk marking was slightly lopsided but I managed to correct that once I took it off).

 

You also want to make the 'U' shape come around the front of the dress to form the side cut outs. Make sure to get these perfectly symetrical - I used the front seams as an indication.

2. Cut the dress out along the chalk line. Remember you want to be able to open and close the dress at the back of the neck so don't, whatever you do, cut it all out. As my dress had a zip down the back, I cut it out along with the fabric but I left a small length of extra zip, and then folded the two teeth of the zip over to create a new end to the zip.

3.Sew all the edges of the cut out fabric by rolling over and securing with small stitches. (Long on the inside and tiny on the outside).
4. Sew two sets of hook and eyes onto the back neck fastening to secure the dress. I also cut about a foot or so off the bottom of the dress too and re-hemmed it.

Voila! It turned out a little bit 'prettier' than my usual style but its really fun to wear.

wearing: DIY Dress and Reiss Mesh Heels

DIY Cut Out Back Top

Fell in love with this look when I saw it in a magazine. Very do-able - simply cut out the back of a long sleeve top and sew the edges.

Elle UK

DIY Inspiration - Dion Lee

Every so often a designer comes out of the woodwork and delivers a collection so full of DIY that I need to take a moment to collect myself. Dion Lee's AW11 collection has my mind swirling with DIY ideas - mens shirts, cut outs, sheerness and more. Oh no you dint! Although I must say Dion has been producing collections with covetable DIYable details for a while now (remember the blazer with cut out sleeves?). 

Images: Style Bubble, Pedestrian.TV

DIY Sideboob Tank with Metal Detail

i.love.sideboob. Seriously, who doesn't? And tops with low arm holes are friggin easy to make - take an oversized tank/tee and some scissors and away you go. I love the addition of a metal style strap like this picture - its a really cool detail. You could use chain or a piece of metal from a hardware store to recreate this look. Doooo it. (psst, have you shopped my closet recently? do that here.)

Image via I LOVE WILDFOX

DIY Square Cut Out

This is such a great look. Take a thrifted maxi and cut a square slit out on the side. Mini/maxi madness. Maria of Vanilla Scented made the black one herself. Love. It.

Images: Vanilla Scented / Topshop SS11

DIY Skeleton Back Top

Do you love this skeletop back top DIYed by the blogger of Cruel Thing? Her blog is bursting with amazing fashion and some very inspiring DIYs. Will definitely be giving this top a go!

Reader DIY - Cut Out Back Shirt

The lovely Natale Eve of Evelesco has had a crack at the cut out back DIY I did a while ago and has done a pretty amazing job on this royal blue shirt. Love the sheer lace bralette worn underneath.

DIY Zanotti Heels

OM-effing-G I have just come across one of the best DIYs I've seen in a very long time. The lovely bloggette from A Matter of Style let me know about these amazing Zanotti inspired heels she made out of a pair of Primark shoes by drawing up a pattern and cutting them out. Head over to her blog and have a look at a few of her other DIYs, this is one of many.


The inspiration:

 

DIY Weekly - Cut Out Back Shirt

As I mentioned last week, I got a bit crafty recently and made my own version of the cut out back top, a la Christine Centenera's top from her 'My Favourite Things' shoot with Tommy Ton. It was amazingly easy to do and looks pretty sexy on.

 Inspiration:

I had a khaki silk collared shirt that I rarely wear so I used this as the basis for my top. Sorry there aren't any pics of the process, my camera was on the blink when I did this.
What I did was:
1. I put the top on and in the mirror I worked out where I wanted the cut out to sit. I tried to mirror roughly the location of the cut out on Christine's top.
2. I then cut open the shirt dreicttly across borisontally in a slightly rounded way - a bit like a very shallow eye shape. Once the cut was made the fabric drooped down really nicely so I didn't have to cut too much out.
3. I then tried on the top again to check the cut out and adjusted the cut out accordingly.
4. I then sewed the edges of the cut out with a very fine stitch, making sure to turn the edge over a couple of times so that any fraying was underneath. I made a pleat in the top running vertically down because the top flap was sticking out a bit.
5. Finally I ironed the edges of the cut out so that the stitching was less noticeable. Voila!
Might wear it with a little triangle bra next time, was alittle bit chilly with nothing underneath.

Before:

After:

DIY Cut Back Shirt

Have been insanely busy but have managed to squeeze in a little bit of DIY - thought I would let you in on the inspiration for a cut out back shirt I did on the weekend. I loved Christine's shirt when I saw it ages ago and blogged about it here. Finally got around to making it happen - pics to come soon!

 

Images: Studded Hearts / Jack and Jil